The updated assortment of apple trees of the right-bank part of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

Goal. To create highly productive varieties of apple trees with a complex of economically valuable traits that would meet the modern requirements of intensive horticulture and be adapted to the conditions of the Forest-Steppe for their further introduction into industrial plantations, farms, and homesteads. Methods. Long-term field studies — to study the characteristics of the growth and productivity of apple varieties in the garden, and their resistance to adverse environmental factors; laboratory studies — to determine the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of apple varieties; mathematical-statistical (correlation, regression, and dispersion analyses) — to assess the reliability of the gained results. Results. In recent years, at the Research Station of Pomology named after L.P. Symyrenko new varieties of apple trees were created. In 2019, an application was submitted for inclusion in the State Register of Plant Varieties Suitable for Cultivation in Ukraine of the Debut columnar apple variety, in 2022 — an of Valiusha variety (El. form 12/130). In 2020, a new variety of winter-ripening apple tree Myr was included in the State Register. Documents are being prepared for the inclusion of the Lybid apple variety with a columnar crown shape (El. form 11/1). Conclusions. According to the results of the evaluation of elite hybrid forms of the apple tree according to the set of economically valuable traits for growing in the right-bank part of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, new varieties were created — Myr, Debut, Valiusha, Lybid (El. form No. 11/1), which combine early fruiting, stable high yield, attractive appearance and harmonious taste, winter hardiness and high resistance against diseases, transportability, long shelf life of fruits. The results of the research will be used in the future to expand the range of apple trees in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine for industrial and amateur horticulture.